Job & Internship Search: Guiding Students Toward Meaningful Opportunities
As trusted mentors, faculty and staff are often asked about how to find jobs and internships. While you don’t need to have all the answers, you can help students build confidence by demystifying the process and pointing them to key resources.
Key Messages to Share with Students
Searching Takes Time
Encourage students to begin early, especially for competitive industries or summer internships.
Strategy Matters
A targeted approach, one that combines online searching with relationship-building, tends to be the most effective.
Opportunities Come in Many Forms
Internships, part-time jobs, research roles, on-campus employment, and volunteering all help build skills and experience.
Tips for Talking with Students
- Encourage a proactive mindset: Help students see that waiting for the “perfect” opportunity may mean missing out on great experiences.
- Talk about skills, not just titles: Many students limit their search by only looking for jobs with familiar titles. Encourage them to think in terms of what they want to do, not just what a job is called. Draw connections to class work and projects!
- Emphasize the power of connections: Help students understand that informational interviews, talking to alumni, and attending events can open doors that online applications can’t.
Sample Conversation Starters
- “What kind of experience are you hoping to gain this year?”
- “Do you know what Handshake is? It’s a great place to start looking.”
- “Have you talked to anyone working in a role you’re interested in?”
- “Would it help to meet with someone who can walk through the search process with you?”
Common Myths to Dispel
I have to know exactly what I want before I start searching.”
Exploration can continue even during the search process.
If I don’t get an internship by sophomore year, I’m behind.”
Students can build experience in many ways; it’s never too late to start.
Campus Resources to Share
Point students to helpful Career Edge resources, such as the Job Search and Internships & Experiences resource pages. See below for more details.
One-on-one support with career educators for refining search strategies, finding opportunities, and tailoring application materials.
Handshake is the university’s official job and internship platform, connecting students with employers who are actively seeking to hire talent from our campus. Through Handshake, students can:
- Discover job and internship opportunities tailored to their interests and major
- Explore employer profiles and reviews
- Register for career fairs, workshops, and networking events
- Schedule career advising appointments
- Receive personalized recommendations based on their activity and preferences
Job and Internship Fairs offer students a direct way to connect with employers, explore career paths, and learn about available opportunities. The Career Development Center hosts two on-campus career fairs each year, one in September during the fall semester and another in February during the spring and also promote additional fairs that our students are encouraged to attend.
We offer both drop-ins and appointments to help students craft strong, tailored resumes that reflect best practices and align with their target roles and industries. During these sessions, students receive personalized feedback and guidance.
Students also have free access to Jobscan, an online tool that compares their resume to a specific job description and provides suggestions to improve keyword alignment and increase their chances of getting noticed by employers.